Hydraulic clutch system with flywheel

Abstract

A flywheel (FW) includes a front cover as a first mass member (102), an inner plate as a second mass member (104), and a coiled spring as a damper member (106) which is interposed between the first and second mass members. A clutch or a clutch body (108) is disposed so as to be connectible with and disconnectible from the inner plate (104) by hydraulic pressures (P0, P1). The front cover (102) and the inner plate (104) are united through a friction plate as coupling means (110) by the hydraulic pressures (P0, P1) for connecting and disconnecting the clutch (108). Thus, the first and second mass members (102, 104) can be united by the simple construction of low cost. Furthermore the uniting operation, inclusive of its synchronization with the control of the clutch body (108), can be precisely controlled.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A hydraulic clutch system with a flywheel, wherein the flywheel includes a first mass member, a second mass member, and a damper member which is interposed between the first and second mass members, and wherein a clutch body is disposed so as to be hydraulically connectable with and disconnectable from the second mass member; the system comprising: coupling means for uniting the first mass member and the second mass member by hydraulic pressures which function to connect and disconnect the clutch body.   
     
     
       2. A hydraulic clutch system with a flywheel as defined in claim 1, wherein the coupling means is furnished with auxiliary coupling means for generating a coupling force which prevents the first mass member and the second mass member from rotating relatively to each other, even in a state where said hydraulic pressures have not developed yet. 
     
     
       3. A hydraulic clutch system with a flywheel as defined in claim 2, further comprising friction means for generating a frictional force when said clutch body has been connected by the urging force of said auxiliary coupling means. 
     
     
       4. A hydraulic clutch system with a flywheel as defined in claim 2, wherein said auxiliary coupling means is retained by first and second retention plates, the first and second retention plates include engagement means adopted to engage each other, and said engagement means allow said first and second retention plates to move in an axial direction thereof and unite them in a rotary direction thereof. 
     
     
       5. A hydraulic clutch system with a flywheel as defined in claim 1, wherein said clutch body is furnished with an auxiliary clutch body which makes it possible to transmit a predetermined magnitude of power, until the hydraulic pressures can bring said clutch body into engagement. 
     
     
       6. A hydraulic clutch system with a flywheel as defined in claim 1, wherein a second damper member which is separate from the first-mentioned damper member is arranged on a driven side of said clutch body, and a spring constant of said second damper member is set greater than that of said first-mentioned damper member.